week 4 Final Day

 Read Luke 2, Matthew 1:18-24, Sing: Hark the Harold Angels Sing, Memorize: Luke 2:8-14

Final Day, Final study. There will be a couple of links for sermons to carry you through the Christmas week before New Year's.

Yesterday in my studies I was in Zephaniah and my notes went over the sin that Israel was being charged with, ( well one of many) and it was syncretistic worship. That is the mixing the idolatry of the surrounding people with worship of the Lord. Ouch. We live in such a time and place where we don't even see that as a sin. We mix politics, holidays, tradition and religious practices and try to make it all blend together under a banner of Christianity. Christmas is a hard time to come across this, it caused me to pause and think of how I worship Jesus at Christmas. Is it worthy as He is worthy? Or as one author entitles a chapter of his book, " Serving leftovers to a Holy God."

2020 has gotten most of us, distracted. My challenge to you, to me today is to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the glorious hope of life everlasting. And tomorrow and every day in this advent season we get to remember, and rejoice that Christ the Savior of the World was born.

Now is an excellent time to recalibrate. To focus on the truth, the Living Word of God, and that Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He came to die to raise again, that we may repent and turn to Him and be saved. There is no greater gift than salvation. Sister, no matter what this year held for you, no matter what is to come for us, Jesus Is Enough. 

December 31 I will have a final post, to prepare for the year to come. Sweet friend, thank you for studying with me. May Jesus Christ be the Life and Light of your Christmas season. Merry Christmas!

Here is 2 sermon series for further study:

Introducing Jesus

Luke 1 and 2

Week 4 Day 3

 Today and tomorrow will be the end. I know normally we go 6 weeks, but this year... it will be 4. <3

Read: Luke 1&2, Sing: Hark the Harold Angels Sing, Memorize: Luke 1:46-50 & Luke 2: 8-14

My heart is feeling consumed today. On so many levels. I feel the weight of my mountain ( no joke, we have 5 kids... its a toppling mountain) of laundry needing to be folded behind me. I am a procrastinator in many ways, so yes I still need to go out shopping today, I want to savor these days before Christmas leading up...trying not to stress it but feeling the ticking of the clock. It is amazing to me how much faster Christmas comes each year. I am seeing more this year than even my children growing and becoming young people, not my babies, and desiring to treasure these days. 

Yesterday we learned from John Macarthur about the glory of the Lord. I am still there. I can't lie, I am stuck there. I am amazed at the significance. I am dazzled by His Light on a people undeserving, and I long to linger here. Its part of why I am stopping at 4 weeks this year. I pray that before 2021 starts you can linger here too, in His Glory. In His Everlasting Love. 

In Luke 2 verse 16 it says, and the shepherds went with haste...and found Jesus! Just as the angel had told them. They went quickly, without delay, and there was the Savior of the World. I want to encourage that response from us this Christmas. That we go with haste to His presence, each morning, each evening, each burden and each blessing. That we go to haste and see the promises made anew each time, there is Christ, just as His Word promises us. 

Today is our hymn study, and again I need to thank Tara W. for this beautiful reflection on Hark the Harold Angels Sing. May it bless and teach you as much as it did me:Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Charles Wesley 

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Come, Desire of nations, come, fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness now efface, stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love.     

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), an English leader of the Methodist movement and author of more than 6,500 hymns. 

Charles and his brother John were educated at Westminster School and Christ Church in Oxford and were ordained to the ministry. Diligent in study and fervent in holy living, John and Charles, along with fellow-preacher George Whitefield were dubbed “the Holy Club.” Charles and John both made a trip to America in order to minister there. However, while the brothers were deeply religious, neither had experienced salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ at that time. Charles Wesley was saved on May 21, 1738, after which he recorded in his journal that the Spirit of God “chased away the darkness of my unbelief.” It was out of this experience that Wesley was moved to pen his famous hymn “And Can it Be?” Wesley’s goal in writing hymns was to teach the poor and illiterate sound doctrine. 

While walking to church on Christmas Day, the sound of the London church bells inspired Wesley to pen his theologically rich hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Saturated with biblical references this hymn proclaims glory to the One Who would reconcile the sinner back to Himself. Many of Wesley’s writings speak to the reconciliation between God and man. Written within a year of Wesley’s conversion, he couldn’t help but sing “Glory to the newborn King” Who made it possible for God and sinners to be reconciled.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King:  Luke 2:14 Wesley begins the hymn not at the beginning of the story but right in the middle when the angels are announcing Christ’s birth to the shepherds. 

Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”  II Cor. 5:19

Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1; Luke 2

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see -- God and Man

Hail th’incarnate Deity, virgin birth of the Son of God and King of nations. 

Pleased as man with man to dwell, Christ’s humility—Philippians 2; 

Jesus our Emmanuel. Emmanuel, God with us. 

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! 

Light and life to all He brings, ris’n with healing in His wings. Malachi 4:2 – “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings.”

Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. We are saved by being “born again”

Come, Desire of nations, come, fix in us Thy humble home; “Desire of nations” is a reference drawn from Haggai 2:7. 

Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head. Genesis 3:15

Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love. I Cor. 15:45

May you worship Him in His Glory and Grace today.

Week 4 Day 2

 Read: Luke 1-2, Sing: Hark the Harold Angels Sing, Memorize: Luke 2: 8-14

Today, I am serving a slice of humble pie. I had to eat it this morning as I was struggling with what to talk about, which direction...so I went for a run. I am attaching the sermon I listened too. I come to the focus passage every year all the time... the shepherds. Its about them and their position in society...etc etc. Yet, I have missed the entire time- the phrase, magnitude and message described in a few simple words... and the Glory of the Lord shone around them. The Glory of the Lord! Here, I am every year trying to imagine what it felt like to be shepherds, we make the scene about them and MISS the glory of God shining around them, we miss the Glory of God shining around us at Christmas! :::Insert giant sigh here::: I am not sure how I miss so many key points all the time... hopefully you can relate!

This Christmas...Look up... See Jesus!

Listen to the sermon here.

Week 4 Day 1

 Read Luke 1-2, Sing: Hark the Harold Angels Sing, Memorize: Luke 1:46-50

This is our final week. I know typically we go longer but starting in the New Year I will be working on a site that all of our studies can be found and done through as I exit social media. Also Starting in January I will once again do ladies bible study. Right now I am praying and seeking the Lord what we will do, but it will be more of an intensive.

Luke 1-2. The account of the birth of Christ. Not a story, not a legend, the account. The account of the Word made flesh dwelling among us. I get very weepy as I study this and listen to the Christmas hymns, realizing the length that God went to sending His Son, and the extent His Son went to putting on flesh to become our Mediator. That our sins ultimately were placed on him, on the cross, under the full wrath of God, that we might be called His righteousness. The miracle of Christmas grows every year in my heart, thinking on His birth, and that in the still small quiet of the moment...the intentions were always to die for our sins. Born that He might die. 

We strip away this. We all do in our own ways. I have done it by trying to hyper spiritualize Christmas...trying to figure out how to best make it so much about God- that it became works based. No grace, no joy... others might over commercializing it.... forgetting Jesus and getting and giving cases of want-me's and debt. In Him, we have found goodness and beauty and the truth of Christmas. Christ does not have a list... of how to celebrate Christmas the "most Christian way," or what is the most Biblical Christmas celebration... No its true. We find in scripture how to delight and meditate on Him daily, how to worship Him...with all our hearts souls minds and strength. That should be our measure for Christmas. 

It can become like a wedding. People get so caught up in the one day, making it perfect, spending the money, making the meal, the cards, the church that they forget their spouse. And the wedding is just a day, the marriage is a lifetime commitment! And Christ... an eternal one!

When I read Luke 1-2 I am amazed at all the details God perfectly aligned to fulfill prophecy of long ago. The world would never be the same. Christ came, and dwelt among us, and now as believers dwells within us. 

With these thoughts, it has been easier to switch to a Christmas focus to a Christ focus. Worshipping him through song and prayer, cutting out access things and to dos and expectations and desiring to be still and know Him. Christmas can become a time of year with GREAT celebration and jubilee we welcome and rejoice and remind people of our King. 

I love Mary's response in Luke 1. She worships. She magnifies. She glorifies. She praises God. Oh that this may be us this week. Sister, take time even today to prepare Him room, that we may celebrate and usher in the birth of the Savior and the coming of our King!

Week 3! Day 4/5

Read: Micah 5, Sing: Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, Memorize: Micah 5:2-5

 Whoops. I missed yesterday. I had snow on the mind! We started super early playing hard yesterday. Today we will wrap up with 2 more of the videos from John Piper and a book suggestion.

  Friend, we have never needed to spread the news of Christ and His supremacy and His ruling, and His Peace more than this year, in my opinion. My prayer is that we can rejoice in the goodness that this prophecy has come to pass and that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords! In the darkness that has truly spread over lately- Share and be the Light of Jesus Christ. Our lives are but a vapor, if this was your last Christmas season, what would people remember of you? That you had the best lights, or cookies, gave the best presents? Or that you were a messenger, shouting and sharing that Jesus Christ is the Hope Everlasting and the Light of the World!

John Piper: Part III and IV

The Book is The King Has Come by James Boice found here. 

Have an absolutely wonderful weekend. Praying that you have opportunity to share joy even today!

Week 3 Day 3!

 Read: Micah 5, Sing: Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, Memorize: Micah 5:2-5

Good morning! Today will be brief because there are two wonderful links here, and the rest will be included Thursday and Friday. 

This is a very sweet article on the History of the writer and reason behind Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, written by Keith Getty. 

And then, transitioning from our worship in song to our wonder of the Word... I found a 4 part series ( about 14 minutes each of John Piper expositing Micah 5:2-5 in such a beautiful clear way. Here are the first two: I and II. 

I am so encouraged to go deeper yet with you ladies. In a day and age where truth is loose and has no foundation how good it is to set our feet firm in the everlasting! May you take hope in His Everlasting Light today and this season!

Week 3 Day 2

 Read: Micah 5, Sing: Oh Little town of Bethlehem, Memorize: Micah 5:2-5

Bear with me today. I have much racing through my heart and mind as we study through the birth of Christ. I am attaching an article to today's reading, and will have several wonderful sermons for you this Friday.

First, Micah predicts the birth of the Savior out of Bethlehem. The town where David was born, it was located 5 miles outside of Jerusalem. He was born in a small town, as the root of Jesse. Here is a fun children's song about that! We know from the gospels that this is true; Jesus is born in Bethlehem, not because there was manipulation of peoples, but because a secular governor ordered a census and it required Joseph and Mary to take, for what them, was probably a very untimely trip. 

A part of Micah I have always skipped over was the term "Ancient days," which can also be translated "from days of eternity." Woah. I always just read it, focused on the town and moved on the the Christmas Story. But Micah is proclaiming here that the Prince of Peace would be other worldly, not a man but the Son of Man. 

And it made me think about a few other very distinct things. I take Jesus for granted. Along with my Bible. I take them both for granted because access is easy to a Bible and because I never had to wait for the promised Messiah. I was born, and He had already come. My grandmother in her incredibly heavy French accent used to tell me how much I don't understand what I have because I never lived through war. She did, she fought at 15 in the French underground, was arrested twice by Nazi soldiers, gunned down once for smuggling Jewish babies away from a concentration camp train. She lost a brother to the war and had a father prisoned for many years during it. She understood freedom better than I ever could, because she fought for it. So when she would look at my generation wasting food, and time and money...it was something incomprehensible because she understood- its not guaranteed. She told me every day to never take that day for granted because no body is guaranteed tomorrow. Yet, I find myself always making plans for a week, a month a year from now. As if it is my right. And if 2020 taught us anything- it is that we are not guaranteed anything. No amount of money or stature changed things, it was global. 

Yet, here we are, in a year of the unexpected, and I found myself falling into Advent, nonchalantly. Because it is here, like every year. The one from ancient days was born that I might spend eternity with Him, but the commonality and commotion of the season has leveraged His birth as traditional and religious; rather monumental and earth shattering. I was to get back to that. Every year we strive to create wonder and awe for our children about the fact that Christ was born. And that is SO HARD in our very noisy, consumer driven country. It takes putting on blinders to some of the nonsense and seeking out He who was prophesied about. Allowing ourselves to be immersed in the story of the birth of Jesus. Biblically. 

Secondly, do I know the traditional stories of the birth of Jesus, and value them over the biblical narrative? We allow ourselves, even in the Church to reconstruct if you will the Nativity. To fit into a play, or an artistic rendering...do I know myself enough, these verses to know fact from fable? Or in some ways do I allow Jesus to become as much a legend as Santa? I am able to sit and read the Old and New testament because people gave their lives over the importance of this being passed on from generation to generation...to the ends of the earth! May I see and value the importance of each moment, each morning and evening as we open our scripture and be fighting to pass it on!

I know these are very heavy and sobering thoughts, but I think they are so important. As we come to the manger we are walking towards the cross. Jesus came to be born to die. Jesus Christ is the SON of GOD. I want to be able to share this glorious hope with others, but it starts first with truly believing for myself that Jesus is who He says He is, and that He is enough.

Mark 9 features one of my favorite encounters with Christ. There is a father seeking help for his child and he comes to Christ. Jesus says, if you have faith he will be healed... and the father cries out, " I believe, help my unbelief!" And I cry every time. Because, it is so real, standing there, eye to eye with Jesus, this father is humble enough to openly state, I do believe, but I am struggling, help my unbelief. My prayer, this Christmas is truly "Jesus, I believe, help my unbelief." May He, the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counselor guide us this advent season.

Article. 

Week 3! Day 1

 Read: Micah 5:2-5, Sing: O Little Town of Bethlehem, Memorize: Micah 5:2-5

Oh Monday...how I beseech thee!! 

Okay, now that that is off my chest, let us begin!

Micah 5:2-5 is another prophecy of the Old Testament proclaiming the coming of the Christ. It is yet again amazing to see as we walk through the Old into the New the fulfillment of the prophecies of Jesus. The pattern we are loosely following for our study this year, Monday and introduction to the author and context of our passage, Tuesday a bit deeper yet and more application, Wednesday our hymn study, Theology Thursday and wrap it up Friday. 

Lets jump in...Who is Micah? Micah was a prophet from Moresheth, prophesying during the same timeframe as Isaiah. His ministry lasted roughly 20 years during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. "Micah is primarily a book proclaiming judgement and restoration for God's people," (The Reformation Study Bible, pg1362). "His birth in Bethlehem points to His having an obscure start in life...He will act in accordance with all that God stipulates and so will completely fulfill the divine purpose. Micah also unveils a mysterious, superhuman origin for the Messiah in that He is, "from of old, from ancient days (5:2),"(pg. 1362).

It is so easy to read these verses without any context and simply apply them to our modern day understanding. Yet, when they were uttered these were profound. The unraveling of an announcement made in the Garden of Eden, when God promised a rescuer. Now the promise is being revealed even yet more. A ruler! In the strength of the Lord! In the majesty of the strength of the Lord! And He shall be great to the ends of the earth!

Do we see Jesus as this? When we listen, and hear, are we filled with the resonating hope that Christ has come? He has come to save His own. Our Shepherd has come! That baby, born in the manger... He is Christ the Lord!!! Wow. Worship Him with me today! <3

Week 2 Day 5

 Read: Isaiah 7:14. Sing: Who Would Have Dreamed, Memorize: Isaiah 7:14       

Isaiah 7:14 foretells of the birth of Jesus; Matthew 1:23 is the confirmation. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and told him "the virgin shall conceive and bear a son..." God uses scripture to assure Joseph of what is happening. God's promise made is His promise being kept.

Can you imagine? No, seriously, can you imagine what it would have been like? It had been 400 or so years since a prophet had spoken. Mary and Joseph were found faithful in the darkness. How does the Lord find us waiting in darkness? And truly, we don't have to endure the same, because we have Christ! 

As winter creeps in, and darkness settles our land, on what many have already found to be a year of darkness, I ask, how are you being found? Waiting and seeking the Savior, trusting in the promises of the Lord and hoping for His return? Sharing this life-altering good news and glorious joy with those around you? Or are you found lambasting people who think differently, awaiting either a political or medical savior? Where have your hopes be laid this year? 

This weekend- take the time to see where you are at. This season, is a wonderful reminder of the beauty of our promise keeping Savior. He is, He was and He ever will be. He carries our sorrows. He is our joy, our peace and our love. When the darkness abounds- may you be reminded that in His Light do we see Light. Darkness cannot overshadow Him. He is the I AM. 

Friend, Jesus beckons in Matthew 11, " Come to me all who are heavy laden, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." What can you let go of today? Where are you seeking out your salvation? May your hope be found is Jesus.

Here is a sermon by James White going through the prophecies of Isaiah 7-11. Enjoy!

    

Week 2 Day 4

 Read: Isaiah 7:14, Sing: Who Would Have Dreamed, Memorize: Isaiah 7:14

John MacArthur writes in his blog on Immanuel:

         “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” - Matthew 1:23

The name Immanuel is the heart of the Christmas story. It is a Hebrew name that means, literally, “God with us.” It is a promise of incarnate deity, a promise that God Himself would appear as a human infant, Immanuel, “God with us.” This baby who was to be born would be God Himself in human form. 

If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: “God with us.” We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ, but the greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!

Immanuel, infinitely rich, became poor. He assumed our nature, entered our sin-polluted world, took our guilt on Himself although He was sinless, bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). All of that is wrapped up in “God with us.”

The apostle Paul penned one of the gladdest truths in all of Scripture: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9) That’s the immeasurable gift of Christmas. Christ, God’s own Son, gave up His wealth and privilege to live as God with us, that He might save His people from their sins, and that through His poverty they might become rich." (And His Name Shall Be Called, by John MacArthur, adapted from God's Gift of Christmas, posted 12.7.2020)

My prayer this week is that we are able to dwell in the incredible richness of the truths of what Immanuel means. It has the deepest of eternal value. That we can see over our current circumstances and gaze at the manger, seeing the face of the Savior, who came to carry our sorrows. I have been trying to see areas where I do not live in the truth of God with me, particularly in this season and then looking outside. How will I take the birth of Christ and proclaim it post Advent. After all, the birth is but the beginning of the unfolding of our salvation plan. Jesus came! And... He is coming back again!

Here is the first of 3 sermons, I enjoyed this very much because I knew very little of the history of Ahaz and what was going on at the time of Isaiah, who ruled what kingdom etc. These are real people, real kingdoms, real prophets and real kings. The birth of Christ, is prophecy fulfilled, not the legend of Christmas retold. <3

Week 2 Day 3

 Read: Isaiah 7:14, Sing: Who Would Have Dreamed, Memorize: Isaiah 7:14

I have been mulling over so many thoughts lately. Good thoughts, worshipful thoughts, somber thoughts, and thoughts of sorrow. If 2020 has revealed anything to me it is that we live as life entitled. We feel, guaranteed tomorrow. And tomorrow the way we planned it. I won't lie, social media has become a burden to me and my heart because of the strife, complaining, soapboxing, and general malice displayed...and I am talking about believers specifically here. It causes my heart to grieve. I couldn't really put my finger on it, until this week. And I realized what it was, because I am guilty of it too. I am not satisfied in Christ alone. I have staked my claim in the way I want things, ease, happiness, peace, and cupcakes sprinkled with Jesus. I feel owed my circumstances...though I would never say it out loud or even to myself. And if things are a mess, or cancelled or don't make sense I shout out, complain, and worry about tomorrow. Yet, I so desire my prayer to be, Jesus, be glorified. (I have noticed its super hard for me to worship and whine at the same time...LOL)

How did I get to these thoughts this morning... because I was awed by the notion that the prophecy of God with us was fulfilled. This amazing moment with God became man, happened so long ago that I take this all for granted. Jesus Christ has become my perfect high priest and mediator. Wow. He came and died that I might go to Him. He was the perfect propitiation for my sins, and for the sins of the world. Not only that but when He ascended into heaven we were told it was better for Him to go that the Helper may come. We reap the benefits of Christ's birth, death, resurrection and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit within us! AND on top of that we have the entire Counsel of God, the Word of God, the completion of the Scriptures before us, with commentaries to understand it all the more. We are the most blessed believers...and yet... all of it can be taken for granted. We, I, can live as if I hardly know Him. 

2020 has taught me we don't like to be uncomfortable, or disrupted. My prayer is that going into Christmas, I can take joy in the greatest disruption of mankind, when God came and dwelt among us. And, that I can long for Him to come again. In the meanwhile, I can take all joy, all delight, regardless my external circumstances, in the comfort and joy that God did what he said and came. God with us, Immanuel. 

Our song this week, these words have been... so beautiful, and such a call to worship for me:

Wondrous gift of heaven: the Father sends the Son
Planned from time eternal, moved by holy love
He will carry our curse and death He'll reverse
So we can be daughters and sons

And who would have dreamed or ever foreseen
That we could hold God in our hands?
The Giver of Life is born in the night
Revealing God's glorious plan

...to save the world. May this week be a gracious reminded that God came and dwelt among us in the Person of Jesus Christ. 

Thursday and Friday I will be simply featuring 2 or 3 sermons with the more technical side of Isaiah 7:14 by several excellent preachers. I could never explain it the way they do, I encourage you to listen, as understanding the Old Testament and understanding theology is both important and edifying to our walk with the Lord. Many blessings to you sisters <3

Week 2 day 2

 Read: Isaiah 7:14, Sing: Who Would Have Dreamed (lyrics), Memorize: Isaiah 7:14

What does the birth of Christ mean to me? It would be easy to start off our study with this question- but it takes the narrative in the wrong direction. The birth of Jesus can mean anything to anyone. Look around us, there are a million different takes on the holiday we call Christmas. The right question to ask is: What does the birth of Christ mean? This has far deeper, stronger and eternally significant answers. This is why, as we memorize small portions of Scripture that foretell of the birth of Christ, we should not do so mindlessly, but with the truth that we are hiding the promise of the Messiah and the birth of a Savior in our hearts and minds. The prophecies foretold and the promised kept! It is why it is so dangerous when preachers claim we don't need the Old Testament to understand the New. That we could do without so to say, that is a lie from the abyss. We should know the Old Testament, even if parts make you feel uncomfortable, or parts are hard to understand, because it lays out the foundation for the coming of the King. 

During our family Bible study right now we are learning about the Reformation as we study church history. As we watched the video last night it made me pause to think, are we raising up people today, who so truly believe in the Bible that they are willing to die for it? That we so much believe the need the truth of what God has spoken that we would give our last breath proclaiming and sharing it? so many men and women paved the streets to our religious freedom with their blood...yet we forget it. Its so easy to get a Bible these days in the Western world. One on my phone, one in the car, 3 on my desk... a blue one a pink one, a coloring one...so easy it becomes...taken for granted. My fear is that I can find myself doing the same thing at Christmas. That I take the most sacred, miraculous, grace giving, loving moment of mankind, when God himself, came to us; and take it for granted. Another year, another holiday. A preschool nativity, a church choir, candy canes and extra pounds...and all of it drowns out the moment where God dwelled with us. 

( I promise this is on point with Isaiah) In Isaiah 7 if you back up a few verses, there is one that hit me like a sack of potatoes. Verse 9b says, "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all." Am I firm in my conviction that Jesus Christ came as Immanuel. That He is fully God fully man? What do I find myself building on this Christmas? A platform of tradition and religious routine...OR the miraculous moment of the Incarnate? If you are going to be committed to something the season, choose Christ. He is the hope of the World. He is the Savior. And He has come to set men free. Sickness and politics don't have to define your year, Christ can. For in Him is the fullness of life. This Christmas, as every year and every day- let Jesus be enough, because Jesus is enough. 

WK 2 Day 1

 Its our second week of Advent! 

Read: Isaiah 7:14, Sing: Who would have Dreamed (Lyrics here) Memorize: Isaiah 7:14.

This week, as we explore Isaiah 7 we will take it in several layers. This can be taken quickly, something we glaze over in our church bulletin as a read aloud during Advent. We can read it and put it aside, with little thought, and without any implication in our lives. I would like to challenge us on that. You might think, seriously Jenny, 1 week, 1 verse this will get dull. BUT, and I say a big but here. I have been focused on this verse for several weeks, and I continue to be amazed at how little I understand Old Testament prophecy, how much I take Jesus for granted, and at times how little I care about the mind blowing thought that Immanuel was promised, and indeed He has come.

We will get a bit more into the technical portion of OT prophecy later in the week. Please don't tune those out. We should know what our Bible says and what it means...not to us...but as if we don't exist. Scripture is not meant to be interpreted by our feelings or circumstances. Scripture is the authoritative, inerrant Word of God. It is. When we can lay hold to the truth that the Bible is not shifting sand, is not culturally relevant or shaped, we can stand firm in and on our foundations of this truth. I read somewhere this weekend, if you want to know what God is like, look to Jesus. Jesus is the Word made flesh. He is the Son of God, an exact imprint of His nature. Woah. 

Isaiah is warning Ahaz when we jump into chapter 7 against an ungodly alliance, and encourages him to seek a sign from the Lord. Ahaz, is a very wicked King and already has his mind made up, yet covers it with self-promoting righteousness. He says, " I will not ask, I will not put the Lord to the test." The truth is, Ahaz already made up his mind. The Lord through Isaiah had said, ask...Ahaz said no. Before even getting into the promise of Immanuel, I was struck by this wicked king.... and the likeness I shared with him. How many times can I turn to scripture to seek out God, and His will and intentions for.... whatever, fill in the blank. But I don't, and I won't because I have already made up my mind. But being a believer will use phrases like... Oh I just trust the Lord will provide, however not heart felt it is. BLEH. It made me sick to read through this transaction. Yet God is so merciful. I realize more and more the heaps of grace He pours out to me each and every day.

I will try and keep this short today- its Monday. But one more thought on the passage as we dive into this week. Isaiah will go on to rebuke Ahaz, and promise the coming of God himself. Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, His birth is foretold. Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign, Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Immanuel, God with us. Never a more humbling, beautiful, profound promise. God with us. The Creator, laying in the arms of His creations, to save them! In the song I chose this week, there is a phrase that when I heard it the first time tears burst out ( Yes I was out walking, my neighbors probably think I am crazy...if they hadn't already) It says, "And who would have dreamed, or ever forseen, that we could hold God in our hands? The Giver of Life is born in the night Revealing God's glorious plan, to save the world.

The Creator of the Universe, who spoke galaxies and stars into existence, gave Himself as a sign. May we be in awe of His glorious plan this week, and take time to treasure the Written Word He gave us to teach us about Himself. In Him, we have everything this season. <3

Wk 1 Day 5

 Read: Isaiah 9:1-7, Sing: Joy to the World, Memorize: Isaiah 9:6

Friday: On Fridays I love to wrap up our thoughts, and leave you with some of the sermons I have listened to on the specific passage we are working through together. Starting next Friday we will be having Bible Study. Please message me for the time. 

Originally, when I started the week I fully thought we would spend the most time on the 4 names of Christ mentioned in the passage. But, I have found these are so much richer on a personal study, where you can take the time to seek and savor the title and the glory of God presented in each promise. However, I found myself lost within verse 2, and verse 6a. The promise made of the Savior, Light will shine into darkness. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... I love how our memorization video ties in John 3:16. I cannot think of a better way to summarize my thoughts on this. Truthfully the magnitude of the prophecy is Isaiah being fulfilled and getting to be on this side of it, where we can read of the birth of Christ and get the fruit of His coming and the Gospel being made known...at times is so overwhelming. A babe born in the manger, who came to die, that we, that I might live. And live I do, because for generation after generation believers have faithfully shared the good news of Jesus Christ. 

On Monday we listened to the spoken word performed by Isaac Wimberly (if you haven't yet you can find it here). I keep the words printed out near me for this study because it encapsulates so much of where I desire to be. I want to find myself longing for Christ's return, but often in my love of this world I must confess I don't long for Christ above all else. "On the edge of where excitement meets...fully pledged to a God they have not seen...they waited." Oh that I may be found waiting for my Savior when He comes again! What does your celebration of Christmas reveal about your waiting? I know this is such a hard question, but ask the hard questions! Does it show that you are consumed by the temporal and that you are longing for the eternal?! At Christmas we get to celebrate CHRIST! Jesus Christ! HE CAME!!!! He was born just like he promised, and we get to hope that as He yet promised He is coming again. May your longing, your hope and your expectations be found in Him today. <3

4 Sermons I enjoyed on Isaiah 9:

Wonderful Counselor

Part II

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

WK 1 Day 4

Read Isaiah 9:1-7, Sing: Joy to the World, Memorize: Isaiah 9:6!

Do you ever feel like you are carrying extra burdens at Christmas? Feelings of loss, or unnecessary expectations? Days full of either pointless things, silly things, or even good things? Everyone has something to sell, everyone wants your time, money and energy. Malls, churches, Walmart... you name it. We have commitment after commitment. Am I getting enough done? Am I making this...spiritual enough, religious enough, red and green enough? Today I would like to challenge you to get rid of the noise the stands in the way between you, your family and the magnitude of Christmas.

As I read, and reread Isaiah 9, and listen to sermons and read commentaries... I am amazed how much I can miss on the goodness of the Gospel in Christmas. The moment light penetrated darkness. I have been thinking about the moment God spoke into existence..."Let there be light." That cataclysmic event. Forever the darkness was gone. And we are reminded in the book of John that this moment happens with Christ. In the beginning was the Word...and He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 

He who created the persons whose very breath depend on the Lord sustaining it, were now holding the Word of God made flesh. He- the MIGHTY GOD! The titles of Christ given in Isaiah are racing through my mind this week. But Mighty God this year I have clung too. It might be because I have listened to this song on repeat, and wept like a baby...but it goes on to say- He who is mighty has done a great thing...unto us a son is given...born was the cornerstone. He who is mighty. Came to save a sinner such as me. He came as the Prince of Peace, reconciling us to our Father as only He could do. 

Make a mental list today- of every expectation you put on yourself. Why are you doing it? Does it cause you to stand and bow in humble admiration to the Lord? Does it bring glory to God? Does it shout that HE WHO IS MIGHTY has come to set men free? Or is it just something you are doing? Throw away the 'rules,' unclutter your hearts and your minds, and find yourself, sitting at the foot of a manger...beholding the mystery of the child born. Unto us a child is born! Unto us a Son is given. 

Woah.

Wk 1 Day 3

 Read: Isaiah 9:1-7, Sing: Joy to the World, Memorize: Isaiah 9:6

Today is our new feature! Our mid week hymn sing! Every single year we sing through Christmas songs and hymns; and I am always sharing how most bring me to weep like a baby. But the question is...why? And it is not in the melody, though most lovely, it is in the richness of the theology that intertwines within the notes of the song. 

In light of the glorious good news, the birth announcement of the Savior, the 4 gifts He is freely giving us as our wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of of peace...He is not just coming but coming in an explosion of love and grace and to satisfy the wrath of God for our sins. Woah. 

Mark 11, we read of the triumphant entry of Christ, people standing is the streets shouting Hosanna!! Hosanna!!!! It made me think, with the glorious words of the gospel soaked richness of these Christmas hymns we are able to do the same. Stand in a world normally shut down to the Gospel truth and shout- JOY TO THE WORLD!!! THE LORD IS COME!!!HE RULES THE WORLD!!!! Do we forsake this opportunity? Do we substitute it with materialism and sentimentalism? It is very easy to do! I fear I do it myself at times. We can get so excited for Christmas that we literally leap over Christ, or nudge Him over making no room for Him not only in the Inn but also in the manger- filling it with legends and tales. Disrupting what it the most remarkable moment of mankind. When love came down, and God himself became a babe in the manger! My prayer is that we can get a hold of this, that we can see the most incredible truth of how accurate these OT prophesies were, and that the NT fulfillment is yet to come. Jesus Christ, CAME! He came! And He promises He is coming back again! With that let us all worship Him this morning...Christ the Lord. 

*The following was written and compiled for me by Tara Walters- to whom I am exceedingly grateful!

Joy to the World

Isaac Watts

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room, and Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing, and Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found, far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders, of His love

“Joy to the World” was written by English poet Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Known as “The Father of English Hymnody,” Watts began reading Latin at age 4, and by age 7 was writing poetry. He became a pastor and published a large number of sermons, treatises, poetry, and hymns. Best known as an author of psalms and hymns, Watts published more than 800 hymns and has been called “the greatest name among hymn-writers.” Watts loved children and in 1715 he published Divine and Moral Songs for Children. In the preface, he wrote: “Children of high and low degree, of the Church of England or Dissenters, baptized or not, may all join together in these songs. And as I have endeavored to sink the language to the level of a child’s understanding…to profit all, if possible, and offend none.” “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” is one of Watt’s hymns written specifically for children. It was Watts’ desire to write hymns that exalted Christ and reminded Christians of their hope in His saving work on the cross. Other familiar hymns by Watts include “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross;” “Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed?” “Come We That Love the Lord;” “O God, Our Help in Ages Past;” “Jesus Shall Reign;” and “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?”

 Watts was inspired to write the text to “Joy to the World” after meditating on Psalm 98. Verse 4 proclaims: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” While we are inclined to think of “Joy to the World” as a Christmas song, the piece was not intended as such. It is not primarily a song about the incarnation, rather, it tells the story of Christ’s return – His second coming, as evidenced by these examples: stanza one tells of earth receiving her King. When Christ came as a baby, He was not received as a king but was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…” Isaiah 53. The third stanza points to the time when sins and sorrows will be no more. Surely as we experience the brokenness of this world we know that time is not now and we groan and long for the day when He does return to make His blessings flow “far as the curse is found!” (Genesis 3:15) The final stanza reminds us that He does rule the world in sovereignty and when He returns all nations will bow and confess His Lordship and He will reign forever. (Philippians 2:10; Revelation 19) Hallelujah! Amen! 

Even though this song is ultimately not a song about the birth of our Savior, we acknowledge that without that Savior humbling Himself and becoming a babe in a manger, we would not be redeemed and would have no reason to sing “the glories of His righteousness.” This song is about the fulfillment of God’s plan to redeem His people by means of His only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wk1 Day 2

 Read: Isaiah 9:1-7 (focusing on verse 6 this week) Sing: Joy to the Word! Memorize: Isaiah 9:6 (Seeds family worship)

James Montgomery Boice makes a beautiful case in the introduction to his book, "The King has Come," about why Christmas is most remarkable:

     Christmas is the season of the year in which believers in Jesus Christ from around the world mark the greatest of all the Bible's miracles, namely, the taking upon himself of a true human nature and body by the second person of the holy Trinity. The proper term for this miracle is the Incarnation, and it is this doctrine that stands at the very heart of Christianity. No other religion has at its core the person of one who himself is both fully God and fully man. Even more significant is the fact that no other religion has as its chief doctrine the claim that in the person of this unique God-man, God himself paid the price of our salvation by dying to save us from our many sins.

In Isaiah we read, for unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. The promise of the fullness of God made flesh. Prophesied to the people. This is overwhelming. We can't even begin to imagine this being told to us. But the promise was made well before this. It started in the Garden of Eden. Reconciliation would happen, and we see it here in the promise of the birth of a Savior.

And He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The promise of a Savior, of the Savior. Of Christ the Lord. Look at the study notes in your Bible at these titles. Each one has different references and meanings. I highly encourage you to study this on your own over the course of the week; write them out and write them on your heart. This is the Jesus we celebrate at Advent, yes a babe in the manger but the Mighty God none the less!!!

Unimaginable grace was being offered at the birth of the God man. He would come to do what we could not and can not. Take away our sins, he would come to take away the sins of the world. He was born to die. There is no one thing more profound then when we can realize at Christmas we are celebrating not just the birth, but the ultimate sacrifice for us...for our sins. AMAZING GRACE. How fitting is it then yet that we would shout and sing from the rooftops.... JOY TO THE WORLD, The Lord has COME. Let earth receive her King. The promised Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Man, The second of the Trinity, He who Created, comes down to dwell among the creation, for the purpose of saving us from our sin.  For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son...may we truly delight in the fact that there is no greater gift then Christ himself this season. May we not be a people who walk in darkness for we have seen His great light!